Education – 6th Grade (Wurtzel)

10/4: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today was Yom Sukkot in Religious School for all of K – 6.
  2. For this session, we met at the synagogue.  We began in the sanctuary for an all school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass and Moreh Jon.  We began asking the question of what makes this room, our Sanctuary so special, and what has changed over the summer.  Then we joined together in making Havdalah.  Several of our students helped by holding the Havdalah symbols.
  3. After that we split into 4 Sukkot/Simchat Torah based rotations:
    • Simchat Torah Flag: We looked at several different Simchat Torah Flags from the past 100+ years.  Then we had the opportunity to make our own.
    • Ushpizot & 7 Species: We learned about 7 of the mystical/traditional female guests we invite into our sukkah.  We also learned about the 7 traditional species of things we celebrate growing at Sukkot.  Then we made banners for each of them.Sukkah Visit: We visited the sukkah to see what is unique about this Jewish house, to fulfill the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and etrog, and the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah.
    • Ushpizin Headbands: We learned about 7 different mystical/traditional ushpizin and played a guessing game to reenact them.  
  4. We came back together in the sanctuary for an all school shira led by Morah Jon.  As part of this we all took turns shaking the lulav and singing 2 songs from Hallel as part of Hoshanah Rabba. 
  5. On the way out, everyone received an Affy Tapple Apple as part of this multigenerational Jewish Chicago Simchat Torah tradition.

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A

9/27: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. The whole school gathered to start off the year with a fun assembly led by Rabbi Prass, Rabbi Bellows, and Moreh Jon.  The assembly included prayer, minute to win it Jewish style, and confetti ‘canons’!  It was lovely to have so many parents join us!
  2. The students stayed with Rabbi Prass, Moreh Jon, and the madrichim for an activity while I met with the parents to discuss our plans for this year.
  3. Discussion with Parents (discussed what to expect with 6th grade curriculum, teacher expectations, parent questions)
  4. Getting to know you activity/Tell Me Something Good
  5. Discussion with students (Discussed expectations in class, expectations in Shira/Tfilah)
  6. What do you know about each topic. Asked students to write down what they knew about each topic we cover.
  7. K – 6th grade ended the day with a fun shirah session with Moreh Jon, singing songs about the new year and the Torah!
  8. Students received a pack of Gushers on their way out to celebrate the tradition that Jewish learning should be sweet and CBA is ‘gushing’ with excitement for the year.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. NA